I was just on the phone with the company where I got my CPAP machine. It's the machine I use for my sleep apnea. Every six months I'm eligible for a new mask, tubing and tank for the machine. I called a couple weeks ago and they told me I wasn't eligible yet because it hadn't been six months. It has been six months, it was November when I started using it. Well, they didn't start counting until I had fully paid for the machine, I was only "renting" it before that. So I wasn't eligible until the end of the month.Anyway, the mask is cracked, but it wasn't touching my face so I decided not to pursue it further, just to call at the end of this month. It's the end of the month, it's a Monday, and I was on hold for a long time.You know how it is on Mondays? Everyone waits until Monday to take care of all their emergencies and I guess there were a lot of CPAP emergencies over the weekend, because I was on hold for 10 minutes.Then the company had to transfer me to my HMO's CPAP call center (snort of derision). A pleasant person came on the line and I was about to ask him to speak up (because that's what old people do), and I was cut off. I'm sitting here now wondering if they can connect my name and address to my phone number and if they'll call me back. I should've gotten a better number when I called earlier this month, because I think I can just call my HMO and skip the CPAP company, but I'm not privy to that information at the moment. So here I sit. Now, after working on this blog a bit, switching out the laundry, and taking a shower, it's become apparent to me they did not connect the dots and call me back. I guess they figured it was my problem. Hmmm? Sounds like the attitudes of the three people I reside with.

My youngest daughter wanted a new suitcase to take to London. I wasn't exactly on board with it until we drug the available suitcases out of the attic.I had suitcases up there from when I was a child. They weren't my suitcases, though. They weren't even my parents' suitcases. They were my mother's parents suitcases. Yes, 50 year old suitcases, in my attic.We must've acquired them when my mother moved in with us for a couple years after my dad died. Then they just conveniently stayed after she went back to her mobile home. They had no wheels and were yellowed inside. I understood why one would reject those beasts. I actually moved them out to my free pile. And as of this writing, two of the three have disappeared.We do have a large yellow suitcase my mother bought years ago (within the lifetime of my children). They had moved to Texas and traveled back and forth more. She figured with its brilliant yellow, hard case, it would be easily spotted on the airport luggage carousel. It was a great idea and my oldest took that suitcase with her to Japan. My youngest has always cringed at the size and bulkiness of that yellow suitcase. And she rejected the pink, rolling, soft bag suitcase I use as the snack trough because it was ugly. Giving her credit, she is only gone seven days compared to my oldest daughter's two weeks in Japan. She also won't be staying with a host family, as it's a professional tour, so she doesn't need the space for gifts. The snack trough is a bit grimy after several conventions; things get spilled, etc.After her quick trip to the orthodontist office yesterday, we went to Kohl's to see what they had in luggage. They had several nice options that came in bright, solid colors, but I remembered I had a coupon, which I forgot to bring. You know those coupons you get in the mail and they say, "Tear here for and extra 15%, 20% or 30% off your entire purchase?" I got one and I actually got 30% off. I never get 30% off and I was determined to use it.So we went home to get it. I was going to grab it off my desk and then we were going to Fred Meyer to see what luggage options they had, then if there wasn't anything better, we were going to Kohl's to get that suitcase. I went to the pile of coupons I keep at the doorway, no Kohl's coupon. I went to the pile on my desk, no Kohl's coupon. I searched the table, no Kohls coupon. I couldn't believe I finally got a 30% coupon and I must've thrown it away. What could I do? We just had to leave without the coupon. On my way to the car, I thought to open the large recycle bin outside. There was the Kohl's coupon, sitting close to the top, the edge printed with "REWARDS" sticking out like a beacon. Yay! Off to Fred Meyer we went, with a Kohl's coupon. Weird, I know. I should've just said, "We have the coupon, let's just go to Kohl's."At Fred Meyer they had a buy one get one free sale on luggage and there, sitting on the shelf was a black suitcase with neon green trim. So spottable, so perfect! She fell in love with it, as well as one can fall in love with luggage. It was the perfect size, shape and colors.However, we didn't need two suitcases. But we stood there and contemplated all we could do with the smaller version of that suitcase. It was free after all; we brought it home too. When we got back out to the car, I said, let's go use my 30% off coupon from Kohl's. I kind of figured I'd find a different color of the tank top I'd purchased and loved a couple weeks before. And I did, but before I found it we walked by cute dresses. I suggested she try a couple on, thinking they wouldn't fit or look right, because it's never that easy, right? They were absolutely adorable on her. Then, because I never get the hint, I suggested she look for black boots; mostly because I had to go upstairs to the bathroom and that's where the shoes are. She's been looking for a pair the past few weeks, but it's summer, boots aren't out yet. I figured I was probably safe. She found the perfect pair. Well, I used my 30% coupon (Honey, I saved!) and they even gave it back to me because the sale lasts a couple more days. I should've handed it back to them, because I obviously can't go back; at least not with my youngest daughter. It's too late for me, but let this be a warning to you: Use your coupons responsibly!

I'm probably the only one for miles around who was happy to see it was raining this morning. There is a certain stress that comes with the sun, like I should be out biking, hiking, gardening, having picnics. But once the cool of the morning wears off, it's too hot out there for me to do anything but look at it from the windows of my air conditioned house.I always picture my self in commercials on sunny days when I don't feel like going outside: White clothes, holding a tennis racket, walking down the beach, stopping for a spontaneous beach volleyball match as I move toward my family, who are dressed in soft pastel clothing, waiting for me on the big tapestry lying in the sand while our butler stands with a cool beverage sitting on a tray. Oh! What will it be?... Drink Capris Sun! Or a bowl of cereal.. Eat Captain Crunch! Or a box of sanitary pads (I am wearing white)... Always use Always to guarantee your summer fun. Just the thought of it wears me out, but I think I missed my calling, I should've been in marketing.I'm only a fan of the bright orb in the sky for the brightness it affords the daytime and I do miss it in the rainy days of fall and winter. But in the summer it keeps the days bright whether it rains or not. Oh, and I need it on Mondays when I do laundry.However, I did wake up tired this morning, maybe because of the weather change or maybe because I just got my lazy on because it's rainy. But today is shopping day and after not having done any major shopping for a month, I've got my work cut out for me. Yesterday I found myself in an odd vortex. My youngest left for a friend's house for the night (drove herself), my oldest was working at the art studio, and my husband was working overtime. Here I was, food ready to cook and no one to cook for. I decided I'd wait until closer to when my husband got home so it would be hot when he hit the door. It was about 1:00pm, we usually eat at 3:00, but he wouldn't be home until around 6. I was at odds with my mind telling me it's time to cook dinner, get to it. Instead I kicked back on my bed with a book, read for a couple hours and my oldest daughter came home. I told her I was surprised she was home as she usually stays for dinner at the art studio. She told me she knew I was cooking dinner and decided to come home to eat with us. I think it was a nice gesture or she saw the chicken thighs thawing in the sink. This time of year I grill them outside and they are especially good that way. She and I talked for a little bit, then I got up and started dinner. It took an hour and wasn't too much earlier than I had planned for her father anyway.

So maybe that's why I'm tired today, too much relaxation yesterday. No rest for the rested.

Last paycheck I purposely did not go grocery shopping. It was after my big birthday bash and I knew we'd end up going out to eat a couple times to nice restaurants. I really wanted sushi the day after payday and had just deposited my birthday money, so we went. Then I had to go to Red Robin for my free birthday burger. But as you know, just because you get a free burger, it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the bill for a family of four. Especially because Red Robin has particularly good shakes (salted caramel being my favorite).Throw in a couple fast food runs because I was just plain worn out from working in my mom's garden and there really was no money for an all out grocery shopping trip. But I expected it, which is why I didn't go shopping a couple weeks ago.I did pick up a few things these last couple weeks. Now we really have no food in the house. Well, not no food, because there is food in the freezer and such, but it's food that has to be prepared.I have long since given up the hope that my kids or husband will prepare food from scratch; although my husband has been known to throw a burger on the grill in desperate situations (I'm usually not home and he suddenly feels frugal).I'm not too worried about my daughters' lack of meal preparations, they do know how to cook. The reality is, I never cooked when I was living at home either. Once when I was growing up, my mother was on a mission to make sure my sister and I knew how to prepare meals. So one summer, she told us that we would have to plan and cook dinner once every other week. I had to cook the first week, my sister the next; whatever we wanted.I decided to cook spaghetti. I planned the shopping list, my mom picked everything up and stood in the kitchen guiding me while I prepared the meal. It worked out very well. My mother was pleased.The next week, my sister gave my mom a list for tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. My mom figured it was a start and got all the ingredients. My sister knew how to open the can and prepare soup and make grilled cheese, so there was no help necessary. On my next turn I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes. My sister's next turn was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I don't know if I saw the pattern and protested or if my mom just figured it was a failed mission, but I never made another meal like that again. I really didn't start cooking meals until I got married. I'm a naturally good cook and even though I didn't make full meals when I was growing up, I often helped with parts of meals. However, there was a lot of phone calling to my mother early in my marriage to ask questions. I completely got my chef on during my 2 1/2 years as a Pampered Chef consultant. That time gave me the courage to try new things. Heck, now I'll even whip up a new recipe for company without having ever tried it. We live in the 21st century, pizza is just down the street if there is ever a massive failure. I love cooking for company, that's why I made all my own birthday feast. It's just what I love to do. Whether my daughters will follow in my footsteps remains to be seen, but at the start of this week, we were in desperate need of some leftovers.Monday I made a chicken dish I copped from a Pampered Chef party I attended. It's simple, but good and a family favorite:Chicken/Bean/Rice Wraps5-6 chicken breasts, cut into thin strips1 can black beans (although kidney beans are fine too)2 cups raw brown ricefresh garlic to taste, mincedsalt to tastethyme to taste

Cook rice (I use chicken broth to cook it in) and set aside

Saute chicken in olive oil

Drain excess liquid

Add black beans and seasonings, mix well

Add rice, mix well

We eat this concoction in a tortilla with sour cream, cheese and hot sauce, although my oldest prefers it in a bowl. And it makes leftovers for several days for lunches (or breakfast for my oldest).I go on Facebook for about 20 minutes every day. The first thing I look for is my neighbor's post. My youngest daughter helps her on occasion, as she is housebound. I like to read her posts to check on her and because she posts descriptions of meals. Sometimes, like yesterday, I get inspiration for a different dinner recipe: beef noodles. I read it early morning with not enough time to get her recipe, so I googled it. This one I got from allrecipes.com:Beef Tips and Noodes1 pound sirloin tips, cubed1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup1 (1.25 oz) package beef with onion soup mix1 (4.5 oz) can mushrooms, drained1 cup water1 (16 oz) package of wide egg noodles

While beef tips are baking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Serve beef tips and sauce over noodles.

I was totally thrilled I had all the ingredients, even the canned mushrooms. I just had onion soup mix without the beef, though. It seemed fine. My oldest decided it should have another can of mushrooms next time, because there will be a next time. I use only whole wheat pasta. It keeps everyone fuller longer. And I went ahead and mixed the pasta into the beef when it came out of the oven. Today I need to use up potatoes, so I will roast potatoes and green beans and grill some chicken thighs. Itwill result in yet more leftovers.It's just a leftover kind of week.

I have started summer off well. I had a genius idea and put it into action. My MIL gave each of us girls quilts from her collection. They are at least 100 years old and although they are still in good shape and usable, it seemed they needed a better home than stacked on the family room couch for the cat to sleep on. It's been bothering me these last few months (because I have nothing better to think about).I am kind of a small space aficionado, as I have a small house with little storage. Many moons ago, at the end of my hallway I had my husband install a shelf where there was a wasted 12 inches of space next to my daughter's bedroom door. I store towels and sheets on it. There are three dowels attached to the shelf that go to the edge of my bedroom door with 6 inches of wasted space. I store blankets on them. The former linen closet is the pantry.

I didn't have room for the new/old quilts on those dowels at the end of the hall and my brain has been working overtime trying to figure out a place I could store those old quilts but also display them.For some reason, as I walked from the family room to the kitchen the other day, the space below the grouping of pictures on that wall spoke to me."Here we are! Waiting for your command." I only wish everyone reacted the same way as that wall when I walk by. I pictured oak towel racks, one on each side. So I did it. Or rather my husband did it, after I went out and bought the supplies. There was the question of finding studs (in the wall; although a stud would be nice, summer eye candy; sorry honey). But I even talked to a guy at Fred Meyer (not eye candy) who helped me buy the appropriate wall anchors for the weight of the quilts. My husband did manage to find one stud (okay, he's sometimes a stud - he says as he unfurls his nose hair - see yesterday's post if you don't know what I'm talking about), but used the wall anchors for the other three. And with only one Murphy's law issue (because there has to be one or something is really wrong), easily resolved (although it was precarious for awhile), I had my blanket holders.Ta da! Now every time I walk by them, they make me extremely happy. One, because I'm an absolute genius, two because they look nice and make the corner look cozy with the rocking chair beside them, and three because I'm an absolute genius. Oh, I already said that. What a great way to start the summer! If I keep telling myself that, it will all work out in the end.

My husband and I headed out to Westport early Friday morning. As usual, we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast so we could save time by eating on the road. How much time does it save? Probably none, but that's part of our tradition every year on our way to figure out the poker run for his club's car show. I was already cranky with the prospect of the day, as it's not my favorite thing to do. My husband was extra fidgety, wiping at his nose as he drove. "What's wrong with you? Do you need to blow your nose?""There's a nose hair tickling my nose. I should've trimmed it this morning. Argh, it's really irritating!""I have some little scissors in my purse if you want to take care of it.""When we were first married I never had nose hairs long enough to tickle my nose.""Back when we were first married I never carried little scissors in my purse."After we went through the drive-thru, my husband pulled into the parking lot. I told him to find a spot so the random people milling around wouldn't wonder why he stopped to pick at his nose.He found an out-of-the-way spot and, I'm not kidding here, unfurled his nose hair and clipped it off. Then he did the same to the other side. "Ahhh! That's better.""And I was worried about spending quality time together."I wasn't cranky anymore.

Yes, I know I'm writing late. I was just enjoying my first weekday morning without an alarm clock. But, still, it was no way to wake up.I've been so busy helping the kids wrap up school, find jobs, get ready for London. I thought I had all my ducks in a row when I suddenly remembered last night that I had to figure out the poker run for my husband's club's car show. As I lazed in bed this morning, I jumped up with a start when I realized I hadn't called the church where they set up lunch. It's South Beach Christian Center in Grayland. They've been opening their facilities to us for the past five or so years. It's been a huge blessing because it's not easy to find a lunch place that's so accommodating with bathrooms, garbage and just general kindness. Fortunately for me, they are available; I just got off the phone with them. Before that I ate breakfast, drank my coffee, and was looking at "important" issues online when the cat climbed onto my chest for a morning cuddle session. How can you go on with your life when your cat wants love? I admit it, I usually try to ignore him until I'm finished blogging, but I was looking at stuff online, so I figured I'd start with him first. So, yes, I'm late blogging this morning. Tomorrow I will be hitting the road early to go to Westport to figure out the poker run so don't expect anything out of me. I kind of hate the process of writing the poker run. My husband is baffled by my dislike of the whole thing, because he sees it as time to spend with me, away from the kids. I don't know why he enjoys that time with me, I'm usually pretty cranky about the middle of the day when things aren't going my way and it feels like it will never come together. It makes me think I better reevaluate the normal time we spend together if bad attention is a good day for him.The problem with writing a poker run for Westport is there is no actual West. The ocean is west, the two main highways don't connect, and it is not the Disneyland of the Northwest the commercials tout.Regardless, I do it for my husband as his/our part for the rod run. I hope for more immediate success this year, because I am going to recycle all my best stops. However, when I say "best" that would be the worst stops for the attendees. These will be the stops the majority of the people got lost getting to in the past. You see, I rhyme my poker runs with only clues of how to get to and find the stops.What seems a no-brainer to me, has baffled and confused many of them, except for the few who share my twisted sense of humor. But I am convinced they can do it. So maybe if I pad those questions with a few more clues of what to do or what not to do (if you end up in Aberdeen, you've gone way too far), they'll figure it out. And yes, this includes the stop 60% of the people could not find three years ago.Either way I win, because I feel if people don't get lost enough, I haven't done my job. So if there are any street rodders reading this blog, I hope you saved your poker run sheets. Remember, a GPS won't help you here.

School is out today. My youngest only has to go until 11:10; my oldest was out of college last week. It was with relish I turned off my alarm for the summer. I'll only use it for appointments, which I prefer to get over with in the morning. My husband must've been in a hurry this morning. Usually he closes the window for me because of the stupid birds that choose 5:00am for their morning wake-up call. I got up to use the facilities shortly after he left at 4:30am, closed the window and noticed my sleep apnea tube was not connected to my mask.On occasion, when I use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm so sleepy, I just crawl back into bed, instantly fall asleep and forget to reattach the tube to the mask. So there I was, tubeless most the night, with the mask still attached to my face. My husband apparently didn't have the time to hand it to me when he left. Or he was sleepy too because he has sleep apnea he refuses to control with a sleep apnea machine.Sleepy or not, I must continue to crack the whip. My oldest needs a job, my youngest needs to share the packing list she has for her London trip. There is much to do and as usual, when mom steps out of the house, all meaningful activity stops (names won't be named here; you know who you are).I just want to crawl back into bed, but there is stuff on the table I need to clean off, a mounting pile of "I'll deal with this later" papers sitting beside me, that oldest daughter to kick out the door to pound the pavement for a job, appointments to be made, dinner to plan and I think I need a summer honey-do list. There are little nagging things going on in the house, like the timer on the fan in my bathroom. If you set it wrong, it just stays on. I keep complaining about it to my husband and his response is "Did you set it over 10 minutes but not as much as 20?"This does not solve the problem in my mind, but is apparently the solution to my husband who always sets the bathroom timer correctly. It has 60 minutes on it, that means it should work if you set it to 25, 40 or 60 minutes; it's a timer after all. It's like saying if the right tire is flat, only make left turns. It's not an answer or a commitment to fix it and it needs to be fixed; as well as finding the two small pieces of trim board that have never been replaced in the bathroom we remodeled 3 years ago. They were found once, deemed to be the wrong finish of grey and then promptly lost. They are probably in my husband's shop, which means they may never be found. But every morning, when I step out of the shower, I think, "We need to find those trim boards." It is just one of those tidbits of bafflement I'd like to get out of my head. So I guess today I'll put stamps on my birthday thank you notes, get them in the mail box, make appointments, clear off the kitchen table and my desk, kick my daughter out the door, make that honey-do list, plan dinner and maybe write something in between.Just remember, longer than 10, shorter than 20 will solve all your problems.

I was on such an emotional roller coaster yesterday, I just don't know how life can be so crazy... I mean, I had to hang my laundry in the house for the first time since April. I wasn't sure it was the right decision, but when I saw it pouring down rain outside, I felt I had made the right choice.Although the laundry hangs on a covered patio, I'm never sure where the couple little leaks are that come through some of the screws that fasten the fiberglass roofing on. I'd hate to have to rewash something or worse yet have something stained because I hung it in the wrong spot.Feeling confident in my decision, I washed all the clothes and got ready for an appointment and the sun came out. How could the sun come out? I had looked at the hourly weather forecast before I hung everything inside and there was no hour when it said the sun would come out.I couldn't rehang the wash because I had to run out the door for my appointment. That sun mocked me the rest of the day. A lovely breeze added insult to injury, "You could've had the laundry all done today, you could've had the laundry all done today."So this morning, the results of my rash summer decision (I don't have a rash, just clothes hanging in the laundry hall), literally hit me in the face as I walked through the dangling clothes to the kitchen, knowing my much taller husband was inconvenienced and had to go around the other way. One thing I really like about summer is having all the clothes washed, folded and put away in one day. Sometimes in the winter I get lazy and don't feel like folding the hanging clothes the second day and they just remain in the laundry hall as my family pulls them off the line one item at a time as they need them (this is another issue for another day). I've been so spoiled being able to hang the laundry outside so early as April this year; usually, I can't start until June. I don't know why my confidence was shaken yesterday and I hung the laundry inside. I forgot the first rule of nature: everything dries eventually. I even turned on the furnace and pellet stove yesterday just to make sure things would dry by today. Furnaces are against my better senses this time of year and I broke the pact. Oh! Such an emotional roller coaster yesterday. [Before you all think I'm losing my mind, please know this is a diatribe of sarcasm reflecting the monotony of life]

Oddly enough high school will be out in 2 1/2 days. It doesn't feel like it's going to be over that soon or that it's not over already. I think right after spring break I was surprised it was still going on. Then with all the nice weather it just seemed unfair. Now, it's rainy, I'll have to hang the laundry inside for the first time since April, it's chilly outside, and it seems like a lovely fall day.However, we'll hit the ground running when school is out with my youngest getting ready to go to London for a week and 4th of July being my husband's and my first camping trip totally alone. Maybe the kids will feel brave and join us for the weekend. We'll have to wait and see. It will be the first camping trip of many we'll be taking alone this summer. My youngest will be leaving for London on one of them and coming home from London at the start of another. For some reason, she doesn't want to get off the plane, jump in the RV and go camping. Go figure.My oldest needs to get a job to support her habit of higher education; so I'm just assuming she won't be available. If she is, it means she probably doesn't have a job, so she's not invited anyway; she'll be slaving at home for room and board.Summer is always a whirlwind to me; probably because I know what our plans are for the summer with camping, car shows, visitors and such. The school year is more of a "seat of our pants" thing, with school interrupting any plans I make. Maybe this year I'm in denial that summer will begin because I can project to its end: my youngest starting her junior year of high school and my oldest living away at college. Can I really be that old? Can they really be that old? Am I really ready to face living with a family of three?Then I project to when it will just be my husband and I with drive-by eatings from my daughters. I guess this will be our summer to practice being alone together. Hope it goes well, I don't have a back up plan.